GyllenSpotting in NYC - a Cribsheet. And Jake Gyllenhaal - in a restaurant?

It is indeed true that BeardGate continues - after the tweets yesterday which did nothing but rave about Jake Gyllenhaal's hotness and his shoes, there has now been confirmation that the Face Pet is alive and well and indeed thriving. When I asked one lucky Jake Twitcher if Jake still had the beard, the reply was this: 'Yes he did, he was rocking the hipster beard lol.' When Jake was seen on a train yesterday, it appeared he was 'rocking the full beard'.


In fact Jake's beardy bear is now so famous it has made an appearance on Bearotic, which provides 'entertainment for bears and the furry at heart'.

Today, the sightings have been fewer but, as you would expect from someone who enjoys cooking so much, the ones we have involve restaurants. This Jake Twitcher was at Soho Park eating burgers when Jake walked past. It's not known if Jake was inside or outside the restaurant but, with food involved, the former is likely. And another one from yesterday: 'I'm standing next to Jake gyllenhal (I think that's how u spell it). Dude is cooler than the other side of the pillow.'


As a result of some of the recent comments here, I've decided that it's time to produce a new cribsheet for the citizens of New York City to aid them in their GyllenQuest. Clearly, GyllenSpotters have been too overawed by hotness to focus on their wider Gyllendom responsibilities. I hope this helps.

Preparation

1. The Autumn is a perfect time for GyllenSpotting. Don't look down, look upwards and watch for signs that Jake may be close - ie, are you by a restaurant?
2. Wear cool, loose clothing.
3. Invest in a good pair of binochulars.
4. Turn your camera on.
5. Buy a guide to The Restaurants of New York City.
6. Open a Twitter account.


Location

1. Inside restaurants
2. Outside restaurants
3. In cafes
4. In milkbars
5. In foodshops
6. On trains
7. Waiting for trains
8. At the ballet.


Observation Skills

Award yourself a point for each question asked.

1. Does Jake have a beard?
2. How long is the beard?
3. Is the hair in keeping with the beard?
4. Is Jake wearing Nike?
5. Does he have a NorthFace bag?
6. Does it have lollipops in its side pockets?
7. Is he eating?
8. Is he on a train?
9. What kind of shoes is he wearing?
10. Lumberjack Shirt?
11. Does Jake have a beard?


For comparison purpose, this post contains, thanks to IHJ, new old pictures of Jake Gyllenhaal in NYC almost 4 years ago exactly in October, 2006. He doesn't have the Face Pet with him; instead he has The Box Lady ( I do like how Jake has his arm out instinctively in the photo above to protect her from a road of traffic - still lets her carry the box though).



And finally...

Jordan Mechner, the father of Prince of Persia has posted here a link to his last PoP screenplay from the summer of 2005.

Dining with Jake Gyllenhaal - Has Sasquatch been shorn? - Behind the scenes on PoP

Jake Gyllenhaal continues to prove that the best way to succeed in becoming a good cook is to eat out a lot and not actually do any cooking. Yesterday Jake was seen out with Maggie and Peter and their mum, Naomi, at Sun In Bloom in Brooklyn. This is particularly good to hear because a) it's a vegan restaurant and b) it serves aphrodisiac rice. The same day Jake was seen at the Il Buco Italian restaurant in Bond Street, which, if it's anything like the Bond Street in London, means the plates will be made out of cashmere and the knives and forks out of crushed diamonds and the chairs out of Elgin's marbles.


Jake was spotted on Bond Street 'walking alone, being a true stud'. Several things to note here - a) Jake does indeed look like a true stud and b) where's the mention of the beard? Yes... in the most recent sightings of Jake there has been no mention of the Face Pet. Either it's gone or it's become extraordinarily sexy and noone notices it anymore.


If you look at yesterday's post you'll see mention of a stylist about to work on a photoshoot with Jake plus sightings of Jake with Love and Other Drugs co-star Anne Hathaway. Makes me wonder if Sasquatch has been taken to the barbers. Watch this space (not to mention the chin...)!


Updated: It looks like Jake was back in SunInBloom today: 'Thank you Jake Gyllenhaal for stopping by www.suninbloom.com this AM to grab your Sweet Lady Green juice & Brazilian nut mylk!' Another lucky person tweeted: 'OMG JUST WALKED PAST JAKE GYLLENHALL! He is beautiful. Omg omg omg.' Someone else: 'I sat across from Jake Gyllenhaal on the train today. He was wearing duck boots.' In other words, not a mention of the Face Pet!

PoP Bits

As we know, the Prince of Persia Blu-ray features some behind the scenes snippets. Not everyone has managed to see these and so it's great to see a couple more of them online this week. They have French subtitles but are not dubbed.




I'm a huge David Fincher fan, as many of you will know, and today I was lucky enough to see a preview of The Social Network. Here's my non-spoilery review.

Includes pictures from IHJ.

Dine and sing along with Jake Gyllenhaal - and hunt for hidden Mickeys

Now that Jake Gyllenhaal has left his cave and is beginning to reintegrate himself back into society, there are signs that he is enjoying a well-earned reprieve from Rabbit, Berry and Bat Pie and the juice of squeezed nettles. This evening, he has been seen at the Gemma Restaurant at The Bowery Hotel in NYC. Unfortunately, the tweeter preferred to focus on her salad rather than on Jake but it is good to know that Jake is out and about and photographable. She has also just posted 'And yes, he's cute girls' - not 'And yes, he's hairy girls' - good sign.

Update: The lucky tweeter Kelley has answered me emphatically that the beard is as thick as ever. New Yorkers - don't go out without your cameras and your shears!


It's been quite a while since one of my Dining with the Gyllenhaals features but here is a look at the Gemma website and the menu of delicious Italian treats. As for the drinks, I think I'll have a Vespa. Can I just say, though, how much I like a restaurant that lists PG Tips on the menu?





Hidden Mickeys

Gyllenhaalisgr8 made me think today when she posted a picture on Twitter which may or may not be a Hidden Mickey. Disney is know for hiding these little blighters across its buildings and products and, to be honest, most of them you're not going to spot. But this does look like it could be it.


The Disney forums hinted at something secret hidden in the trailer for Prince of Persia, a code maybe. Someone even thought he saw Mickey in a blood splatter. One site even identified this as The Hidden Mickey but I have to say this could just as easily be a Hidden Lancaster Bomber.


And the results are in!

With thanks to all of you who voted in the What Next For Jake poll, the results are now in and the resounding winner is SciFi!Musical!


Judging by the results, it would ideally be a dramatic musical with a historical bent. It will definitely have no film noir elements and, even though we love Jake as one particular cowboy, we're not keen to see him heading west again - or back onto a battlefield. Detailed analysis of the results will follow when I've had chance to get my flip chart and laser pointer dusted off. But, in the meantime, you will find this post stardusted with musical gems straight from the tonsils of our talented Jake.






Includes pictures from Gyllenhaalisgr8, IHJ and links.

The full, R-rated, unexpurgated, horrific, true and shocking tale of Jake Gyllenhaal's Prince of Persia regime

One man who has received considerable attention during this PoP year is Simon Waterson who helped to pump up Jake Gyllenhaal's biceps and abs by mercilessly denying him snickers bars and hearty British pub fare while forcefeeding him with raw fish and soup and pummelling those tired muscles relentlessly. Simon Waterson, ex-Royal Marine and torturer to the rich and famous, has given us details about Jake's PoP regime and diet before, but now, to coincide with the DVD release, we have a full account from Simon. How can anyone not buy the DVD now, when faced with the unavoidable truth that there was a lot more to the making of Prince of Persia than wall-to-wall couscous? Here is the true story in all its horror, so shocking that no amount of Blu-ray extras can do justice to it. Do you ever see Dastan eat? I don't think so...


Over to Simon and the catalogue of tortures that made up the diary of Jake's PoP day (although I must admit that I'd be hard pressed to come up with a better start to the day than a 5am half-banana accompanied by sandy uphill sprints and squat thrusts while wearing a weighted jacket). But a warning... Do NOT try this at home (unless Bruckheimer asks you nicely).


5 A.M.
“We’d start the day very early with a strong black coffee and a pre-workout snack of half a banana and some nuts,” explains Waterson. “Jake was staying in London at the time, so we’d drive to Hyde Park to work out on the sand horse tracks, which would mimic the sand of Morocco where much of the movie was filmed. Every workout would start of with warm-up exercises and stretches – and then Jake would put on a 20lb-weighted jacket to simulate the armor he would wear in the movie. He’d run around on the sand for 30 to 40 minutes before spending an hour on cardio exercises including sit-ups, press-up, squat thrusts and uphill sprints. Finally, we’d finish off with some stretches and a cool-down session – and then we’d head home.”


7.30 A.M.
“Jake would eat breakfast around 7.30 A.M. every morning. This would consist of an egg white omelet with a piece of rye toast and half a protein shake with blueberries, raspberries and almonds. After a shower, he’d head off to the studio for the day where he’d work on the pre-production of the movie. He’d be involved with stunt rehearsals, fight choreography, costume tests and script run-throughs before returning home for his evening workout.”

10 A.M.
“It was essential to keep Jake well fueled throughout the day, so he would eat small and often. A small snack consists of anything from a cereal bar to a power bar or half a protein shake and some nuts or dark chocolate.”


MIDDAY
“A typical lunch would be a light meal of brown rice, chicken and a dark green, leafy vegetable like broccoli, steamed asparagus or spinach. Alternatively, he’d have a baked potato with tuna and salad.”

2 P.M. AND 4 P.M.
“Afternoon snacks would often involve crudités like carrots and broccoli or celery with some kind of dip, like hummus or ranch. He’d eat every two hours in preparation for the intense workouts.”


6 P.M.
“We’d tackle a lot of circuit-based training in the hour-long evening session. This involved pull-ups, plyometrics, jumps and sit-ups. We’d use things like kettle bells during these exercises, as well as cables to simulate sword fights. We would end the session with a couple of compound exercises before stretching and cooling down. A compound exercise is an exercise where you use multiple muscle groups and you lift heavy weights. Typical examples of compound exercises are dead lifts, shoulder press and bench press exercises. These would allow Jake to develop muscle tissue, which gave him the aesthetics for the character.”

7.30 P.M.
“If possible, Jake would get a half-hour deep tissue massage after the evening workout. This would help get blood into the right areas to heal and prevent muscle soreness – and to make sure the muscles were ready to work again the next day. For dinner, he’d eat a lean piece of meat or a little bit of sushi. Anything protein-based and lean would work, but if we finished late and it was within two hours of going to bed, it would better to have soup instead. A light soup like chicken and sweet corn soup works wonders because it’s easier to digest while you’re trying to sleep.”


9 P.M.
“I’d always suggest Jake get to bed as early as possible because he’d have to be up before 5 A.M. every morning to tackle another day of intense exercise and work. There was never time for a late night with a workout regimen like this, but Jake put in 100 percent of effort and it all paid off with a remarkable level of fitness and a great movie role. It all worked out in the end.” Source.

Jake's lucky. At least he didn't have to live in a shoebox at the bottom of a lake and have to sponge it dry every morning by 2am before working a 29-hour shift down the pit while having his feet gnawed off by rats and licking the coalface for lunch. You had it easy, Jake!


Previous Waterson posts/interviews on WDW can be found here and here and here. Includes pictures from Disney and scans by WDW from Men's Fitness (June 2010)

Finding a home for Jake Gyllenhaal, and more tips from Jake on how to beat the summer heat (and run fast)

These days it seems like movies are made anywhere but Los Angeles. Which may be a nusiance for movie stars because that's where many of them live. But, take a film out of a studio set, and it makes for all sorts of exciting adventures for fans (as we've seen on WDW more than once over the last few years) while also giving Jake Gyllenhaal a deep insight into tagines and fish 'n' chips. For a long shoot, hotels won't do. Stars want to feel more at home and that often means being given someone else's home.



In this article, a real estate agent from Pittsburgh talks about how they go about creating a home from home for the stars who visit the city, including Jake Gyllenhaal who filmed Love and Other Drugs in Pittsburgh last year.


And while some stars may want luxuriant splendour, access to main roads and airports, Jake is somewhat different: '"He wanted to be where he could walk around, be close to stores," she said. "He wanted to be where he could go to Whole Foods." Ms. Neiman found a private home in Shadyside -- she lives close by and volunteered to walk his dog every day -- but the homeowner got cold feet about relocating. So Mr. Gyllenhaal ended up staying in a vacant unit at the Beechwood Commons townhouse development in Squirrel Hill.'


'Vacant unit' conjures up images of Jake having to sleep on a mattress on the floor of a bare apartment with paint still drying on the walls, while Atticus could run and play on a square piece of newly-seeded grass with tree saplings in cages every few feet.


Obviously, next time Jake is filming in Oxford I would be more than happy to let him and Atticus have full use of my flat. We may not have a Whole Foods but we do have a Tesco and a coffee shop. I'd have to spend some time explaining how to operate the washing machine and the microwave is dysfunctional but apart from that it'd be ideal. However, it may be better if Jake moves into my neighbour's flat instead.


And finally...

So far it's been a hot summer for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere (although admittedly it's a little more sporadic over here in southern England), which means that we can empathise with those hot medieval Persian warriors and Hassansins having to do battle and fight wrongs and do wrongs in very high temperatures. I think that the Hassansins must have had a particularly hard time due to all those elaborate head wrappings and studs. And then there's the ostrich that had to wear a woolly hat.


In one of Jake's Prince of Persia interviews, Jake had some fine advice when asked what's the best way to keep cool in the desert (you may want to get a notebook and pen ready): 'Water, water, water!' And wear lots of layers (although if the layers include padded jackets and goretex, this might not be so effective).

'I learned a great trick: like the Berber I wore a lot of layers - and I wasn't as hot as the people who ran around in shorts and T-shirts!' Not as hot? I will beg to differ with Jake on that one...


To continue the clothes talk: 'As a boy I dreamed of slipping into the shoes of Indiana Jones and Robin Hood.' I'm trying to imagine Robin Hood wearing shoes and not little felt boots with feathers at the top.

'A couple of my crazy stunts did happen, which were incorporated into the film. I was very proud - until I was hanging upside down two hours later on a wire.'


'I was in the gym every day for months before we started filming. Later, I trained to do the stunts and fights in particular. That was like a boot camp. I really went to my limits!'

More on those poor innocent ostriches: 'They are really nasty! They can kill you with their beaks, and, because they're so huge, they can trample you easily. In one scene, I stumble into a race and ! was pursued by eight animals. No kidding: I ran because I literally ran for my life.' More here.


So, we end on another handy tip from Jake: If you want to run fast you can do worse than be chased by 8 ostriches.


Includes pictures from IHJ and JJ.

Jake Gyllenhaal 's Wing Chun Kung Fu workout yesterday and making an exit

Jake Gyllenhaal on his extra-curricular activities: 'I meditate. I cycle for hours. It’s not a physical activity for me as much as it’s a mental activity. I practice kung fu and wing chun.' Proving that this is indeed the case and Jake's not just reading from the Foreword of his You Too Can Look Like Me GyllenGuide, yesterday Jake was seen leaving the Wing Chun Kung Fu Studio in LA, looking a little sweaty.




Regrettably, these pictures show Jake talking in a doorway having completed his Wing Chun and not actually doing it. But thank heavens for PoP promo - my knowledge of kung fu was stricty limited to the No 1 super guy Hong Kong Phooey but now, thanks to Jake Gyllenhaal yet again, I have learned so much more.




Sidenote: Robert Downey Jr, a good friend of Jake's, has said on more than one occasion about how Wing Chun has helped him get back into physical and mental shape.

It is most definitely true that, as a movie star, one is more usually filmed leaving somewhere than actually doing the thing that one went there to do. This was also true on the night of 17 June when Jake was seen leaving Dan Tana's, an Italian restaurant in Hollywood. Here is the menu which almost approaches Oxford prices. I also can't help feeling intrigued by this: 'PENNE ARABIATA, a la Michael Kane'. Wouldn't Michael Caine be more pie and chips? There is a video of the exit but you have to put up with Ryan Phillippe's tantrum first.




Also rather interestingly (bear in mind I haven't actually been outside today to experience the world for myself, concentrating instead on perfecting my pale World Cup viewing complexion), Jake gets into a car that carries a Lakers flag but also has a soccer/football on the floor - an Italian one. Has Jake split his World Cup affiliations? Adam Levine, always gorgeous, was also with Jake for nosh. I think Adam must go out with Jake so that he doesn't get recognised himself. He uses Jake like camouflage.


Talking of coming and going, this video shows Jake and Adam and friends arriving at the finals game. Jake turns up just after the 3 minute mark but you can tell he's on his way because of the people yelling 'Jake! Jake! Jake!'. A familiar refrain.



Many thanks to IHJ for the pics! There are more there from yesterday.

The Jake Gyllenhaal Guide to Eating your Way to PoP Abs

It may not have escaped your attention but Jake Gyllenhaal looks a tad hot and sexy and buffed in Prince of Persia (not just Prince of Persia either but that is the current hot potato Jake movie). Should it not be sufficient for you simply to watch and enjoy Jake's incredible athletic body leaping, twisting and contorting itself into all kinds of baddie-escaping and sword- and snake-dodging manouevres, you too can get the look. Unfortunately, it will take a lot more than a bit of leather strapping, some attractive scarves and a big black horse, as can be seen in the current Mens Fitness magazine. In this, Jake's trainer Simon Waterson tells us a bit about what Jake did to look like this:



'Get warrior abs: ‘We did a lot of core work to build the stability Jake needed to wield a sword,’ explains Waterson. ‘This involved a high number of reps to help build muscular strength and endurance.’ [And in the article, you can see some of the reps to try out at home]



'Eat like a Prince: 'Eating little and often is the key to building muscle and staying lean,’ says Waterson. ‘Jake ate very healthily and didn’t have the fast-food mentality. We gave him lots of salads, vegetables and lean meat to keep his blood sugar levels stable throughout the day. A good formula for building muscle is to eat around 2g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight, and drink lots of water throughout the day.’'



'4.45am Pre-workout snack:
Espresso and banana

7am Post-workout breakfast:
Egg white omelette on rye bread

9am Early morning snack:
Protein shake

11am Mid-morning snack:
Apple or banana and handful of almonds and raisins

1pm Lunch:
Two chicken breasts with a huge salad of avocado, broccoli and other dark green leaves and veg

3pm Mid-afternoon snack:
Protein shake

7pm Dinner:
Steak with steamed veg or grilled chicken with couscous'


While I note with pleasure that no artichokes feature in this 'menu', I can see a little that my diet does differ. Apart from the espresso at 4.45 am which, if you have to be awake at that time in the morning, sounds like a necessity rather than an option. My diet, which will give you the physique of an office dweller in no time at all, is based on the rule of eating a lot and often. I have also replaced the nibbling on nuts and raisins with chomping on jaffa cakes. For the evenings, a pint of real ale is a good substitute for a protein shake. As a veggie, I have subtley tweaked the chicken breast and salad lunch into a veggieburger and chips. In no time at all you'll see the results.


Long, long, long ago, Simon talked to us a little more about Jake's training and eating regime. You can read more about that here.


ET clearly approve of Jake's Prince of Persia regime because today they have charted his decade of hotness. Jake's transformation is documented in this post with some fabulous new stills and set shots from Disney - via with many, many thanks IHJ.


And finally...

Completely accidentally no doubt... the release of the film in May is coinciding with the development of a new Prince of Persia game for the iPhone and iTouch. We got our first look today at something I must and will have. My PoP submersion continues...



Pictures from Disney and IHJ.